Note: Margaret is on vacation and away from her blog. She gets so many nice and touching letters from you folks we thought we’d share some recent ones today (since you’ve all seen the not so nice ones). Thanks for sharing your kind words:
—–Original Message—–
From: [removed]
Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 1:00 PM
To: margaretcho
Subject: fan commentary
HI MARGARET!!!
I’m a 22 year old gay man living in Tempe, Arizona (Phoenix area), and I’m a REGISTERED Democrat. (I make it a point to say that because so few of my friends even bother to vote, which is a shame.)
About 6 months ago a new friend of mine showed me your video “Cho Revolution.” I have to confess that up until that point I had never heard of you before. I thought your comedy style was HISTERICAL! Three months later I purchased a 3-video set of “I’m the one that I want”, “Notorious C.H.O.”, and “Cho Revolution.” I watched your first two videos back to back AND COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING MY ASS OFF!
What I really enjoy about your comedy, aside from the fact that it’s fucking funnier than anything I’ve ever seen, is how you present social issues, particularly HIV/AIDS, eating disorders, body dismorphia, and the general social inequality in our country with regard to Gays and Lesbians. You do so in an up-front, in-your-face style – you hold nothing back. Not only that, but you integrate it into your comedy routine so it’s though provoking, yet funny at the same time!
I just recently rented your most recent video “Assassin” which I LOVED, as well, and I intend to buy it. I was particularly interested by your reference to the hate mail you received. I looked on your website in the hate mail section and I couldn’t believe the nasty things they were saying! That’s right-wing fundamentalist HYPOCRITICAL Christians for you though – instead of actually addressing the issue they just attack the person. Masters of the Ad Hominem fallacy, they are. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were inspired by Karl Rove himself!
I wanted to let you know that you inspired me to become more interested in politics, which I had previously just ignored. I also just got done writing a letter to Senator John McCain of my home state of Arizona – the first time I’ve every written my Congressman. To summarize my 2 page letter: I gave him a little background on my life, explained why I felt gays should be allowed to marry, refuted as many anti-gay marriage Republican arguments I could think of, and ended it by saying that marriage is a part of happiness in life for (most) people in this country, and that the U.S. Constitution guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I managed to say all of it in a respectful manner so he couldn’t dismiss my arguments so easily. We’ll see if it has any effect on his views. I’m hopeful it will because Arizona is actually full of moderate Republicans and Democrats. In the 2004 election Bush only got 56% of the vote here – usually Republican candidates get around 70%. A lot of people have moved to the Phoenix area from California and it seems that most of them are liberals! As a side note: perhaps you could throw something into your routine to encourage young people like me to get off their asses and vote, too!
Anyway, thank you so much for your comedy, your political inspiration, and for sharing powerful and compelling stories from your own life!
KICK ASS MARGARET!!!!
Hugs and kisses,
-Mike
—–Original Message—–
From: [removed]
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 6:45 PM
To: margaretcho
Subject: Dude, I’m e-mailing Margaret Cho
Heh. No, this isn’t an e-mail detailing in what ways I can help to make your penis larger, or even an e-mail giving you a free suscription to a website where you get to see a horse fucking women. No, this is just an e-mail of a devout follower of you and Bruce, who wants to share some of my life and my own experiences with you.
I’m 13. I’m gay. I’m overweight, and honestly, you’re one of the few people who I really think I can talk to about this kind of thing. I don’t actually know if you’ll ever read this, but eh. You might, and that’s plenty of motive for me to do so.
I remember when I first saw I’m The One That I Want. I was 11 and we were watching it on a DVD she borrowed from a friend at work. For some kind of reason or another, I felt an odd sense of acceptance as I watched. The fact is, I’ve been really, really gay since I could speak. I think my first words were Dolce and Gabana, my mom just pretended it was cheesburger.
The moment I hit puberty, I was unable to look at a boy who was even remotely attractive without having my brain launch into the darkest, filthiest, most disgusting place my 12 year-old mind could conjure. I knew I was gay and it was terrifying, because it meant that all the kids at school who were calling me a fag and a homo and a queer were right. I was gay. It was almost like I’d let them win.
I’m only out to one girl at my school, and she’s been my rock through the whole thing. She’s my fag-hag and she loves it, but it’s also upsetting, because I know that no one else will be as accepting as she is.
Including my mom. My dad died in June, and I miss him, sometimes. He was very critical of all my actions. He wanted me to lose weight, and get some friends who were boys. It never happened. I don’t know how my mom’ll react at this point in her life. I can’t lose her, she’s the only one I have left.
There’s days when I feel bad, and, as corny as it may sound, I pop in one of your specials, I laugh my ass off, and I take comfort in that there’s someone who understands it.
You know, I’ve been in 4 musicals at my school. It’s a mystery to ME that they don’t know I’m gay.
I wanna be an actor someday. Or a comedian, and I want to be able to tell my stories to people and find support. I want to be able to end my shows with a deep, meaningful monologue and end it with a joke that makes people laugh like what I just said didn’t affect them any.
I’m at an age where, like the rest of the children around me, I am trying to come into my own. But what do I even do when my own isn’t going to be accepted by them around me?
I love you, girl. Thanks for all the help through the years.
-Nick
—–Original Message—–
From: [removed]
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 1:32 PM
To: margaretcho
Subject: One Voice
Margaret,
First, I’ve been a fan of yours for years, following your act since I was introduced to your talents on HBO. I was lucky enough to get tickets to your show, Revolution, at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, where I reside. I actually got the tickets from some old troll at a gay bar here called Woody’s. I smiled, shook my ass and kissed his sweet cheek for the gift. To see you live was an incredible experience.
OK, I’ll stop blowing menthol smoke up your ass and get right to the point.
I’ve always been scrutinized for my extremely gregarious character and blatant, sometimes brasen, yet always honest voice. But, much like you, I only speak the truth. Words are just vowels and consenants. But, actions speak volumes.
When I was 21, I came out to my father. I’ll be 30 in February. His words to me were “Just don’t bring any of your boyfriends here or to any family function.” Those were the wrong words to say to me. At the time, I was a TV reporter on a gay TV show in Houston. So, just to be a rebel fucker, I sent my father tapes of every show I was on. That way he could watch me trapse around the gayborhood like the little queen I was, and I could rub it in his face. Later, I moved to Dallas to start a fresh new life, where I mailed photos of me kissing and hugging boys to my father. Nine years later, my intolerence for ignorance payed off, and my father, along with my entire family, embraces and accepts me and my homosexuality.
I pounded the pavement in my twenties – for equality. My first TV report was on late Matthew Shepherd of Wyoming. Initially, I had signed up to cover the entertainment portion of the show. But, my producer insisted that I get my feet wet by covering the biggest and most important story of the decade. For that, I thank him. Covering the Matthew Shepherd story opened my eyes to so many injustices in this world – injustices that I had taken for granted as a young, 21 year old kid who was newly out.
Matthew Shepherd led to my own awakening. I soon joined the Pride Committee of Houston and LGRL (Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby), now called Equality Texas, of which I’m still a member. And my voice is loud. I do not tolerate ignorance – not from my family, not from any mullet-wearing redneck fucker – not from anyone.
Just this year, the CEO of my company came to visit my office in Dallas. He rarely visits any offices around the nation. Each employee was charged with submitting a question we all wanted answered by our CEO.
Mine was simple:
“Why do I come to work every day and work tirelessly, putting in countless hours of time – even from home when I’m off work; practically married to my job…why am I devoted hopelessly to a company that’s not devoted to me? Why does my company not offer me domestic partner benefits?”
The CEO answered several questions that day, but failed to mention mine. However, about 30 days later an internal memo was sent out that announced the inclusion of sexual orientation in our EEO statement, and the additon of domestic partner benefits. I didn’t care that he was too chicken shit to discuss my issue with everyone outloud. He made a change. That’s all I wanted. That’s what I got.
My point: The power of one can change the world. This was just one small step. But, it’s one more company out there that is listening to the world around it, and moving forward with the times. All because I asked one simple question.
I’m preaching to the choir here, Margaret. But no one can ever get too much positive feedback. Your voice is so important. As a gay man, I would like to sincerely thank you. Thank you for advocating on my behalf. Thank you for standing up and making a difference. Thank you for making me laugh and cry with joy. Thank you for not being afraid. Thank you for giving the gay community a voice. Thank you for waking up the advocate in so many people, who will in return make their voice heard. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Jason